Sumlin: Manziel family, lawyers ‘advise him not to talk’

COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M held its weekly press conference today, and the Aggies’ Heisman Trophy winner was once again a no-show to the shindig previewing the upcoming game. This week that game happens to be against top-ranked Alabama starting 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

A&M coach Kevin Sumlin offered up an interesting reason why Manziel, who visited with the media following the No. 6 Aggies’ 65-28 whipping of Sam Houston State last weekend, was nowhere to be found today.

“Quite frankly, he and his family and lawyers and advisers have advised him not to talk,” Sumlin said. “I respect his wishes for that.”

Manziel sat out the first two quarters of the Aggies’ 52-31 victory over Rice in the opener, the result of NCAA and A&M inquiries that determined he’d committed an “inadvertent violation” in signing memorabilia for brokers.

More highlights (and low blows) from today’s gathering on a campus already hyped for Saturday’s showdown:

* Sumlin followed up on Alabama coach Nick Saban’s story from Monday and said he did indeed interview with Saban when Saban was at LSU a decade ago. Sumlin would soon become an assistant at Oklahoma under Bob Stoops in early 2003, and the following season LSU and OU played in the national title game.

Sumlin said today that the time simply wasn’t right for him and his family to move to Baton Rouge, La., back then. He also crossed paths before the national title game (which LSU won 21-14) with an LSU assistant who joked with him, “Either way you were all right.”

* Safety Toney Hurd has dubbed A&M “the university of Texas” via Twitter, and on Tuesday offered that the Aggies are “taking over the state.” Few might argue right now, considering the Longhorns’ troubles and A&M’s No. 6 ranking.

* Both Sumlin and defensive coordinator Mark Snyder said the return of senior linebacker Steven Jenkins following a two-game suspension is huge for the defense not just on physical front but in terms of leadership.

* Sumlin said safety Floyd Raven (collarbone) should be back some time this season but won’t be available against the Crimson Tide.

* Sumlin on criticism of up-tempo offense: “It’s obvious how I respond to it. We’re going to go as fast as we can.”

* Sumlin isn’t pleased with the addition of CBS’s “Johnny Cam” – just zeroed in on Manziel the entire game on Saturday vs. Alabama – because it takes away from the team concept. Sumlin said he intends to have a conversation with the network about that.

* Snyder said he felt confidence “permeating out their pores” on defense at practice Monday with everyone back following suspensions.

* Junior cornerback Deshazor Everett on facing Alabama: “We like being the underdog.”